Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFLABAL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFLABAL’, particularly characterized by having white flowers, 1 to 3 peduncles, an inflorescence that is short and moderate, leaves that are narrow oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFLABAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALFLABAL’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, are three-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALFLABAL’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique white flowers, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALFLABAL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALFLABAL’ originated from a cross made in January 2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-0274’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘22481-01’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in May 2009 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 3-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALFLABAL’ by tissue culture was first performed in October 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Sep. 29, 2014. ‘PHALFLABAL’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flowers;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Inflorescence is short and moderate;     -   4) Shape of the leaf is narrow oblong; and     -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in May 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALFLABAL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFLABAL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFLABAL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALFLABAL’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 40-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 9 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in May 2015. Color readings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (1995).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALFLABAL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-0274’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22481-01’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—38             to 40 weeks for a 9 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, panicle.         -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—42.0 cm to             52.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with branching             lateral roots having greyed-purple/brown colored root tips. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 10.0 cm             to 12.0 cm. Width: 5.0 cm to 6.0 cm. Shape: Narrow oblong.             Base shape: Slightly elongated. Apex: Unequal mucronate.             Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from the             horizontal position): Between 15 degrees and 70 degrees.             Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower             surface: Mix of RHS 146B and 147B with greyed-purple edge             (RHS 187A). Texture: Smooth. Thickness: 3.1 mm to 3.4 mm.             Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper             surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—13 to 19.         -   Length.—38.0 cm to 43.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.4 mm to 4.6 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of green (RHS 146A to 146C) and slightly             greyed-purple (RHS 187A) and brown (RHS 200C).         -   Internode length.—50.0 mm to 55.0 mm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 220.0 mm to             250.0 mm. Diameter: 3.6 mm to 3.9 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months             after planting in a 9 cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 45.0 mm to 50.0 mm. Diameter: 65.0 mm to             70.0 mm. Depth of lip: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 11 to 13 months.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 1.8 cm to 2.0 cm.             Width: 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Light             green (RHS 145B and 145C) and slightly greyed-light purple             (RHS 186C).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Obtuse/rounded symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base             to tip): 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Width: 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White             (RHS 155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color:             White (RHS 155C). Over color: Slightly lilac in the middle,             almost not observable (RHS 78D).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Length (from base to tip): 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm. Width: 20.0             mm to 22.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:             Basic color: White (RHS 155C). Over color: Absent. Lower             surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C). Over color: Lilac             (RHS 78B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse, slightly             asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 31.0             mm to 33.0 mm. Width: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C). Over             color: Partially green towards the center of the flowers             (RHS 145C). Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C).             Over color: Slightly lilac (RHS 78D) and partially green             towards the base (RHS 145C).         -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Whiskers: Present. Length of             whiskers: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS             155C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Length (from base to tip): 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Width: 8.0 mm             to 10.0 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C) with a yellow-green edge             on one side (RHS 150C and 151D) and a few brown             stripes/spots towards the callus (RHS 177C).         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Length (from base to tip):             18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Width: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Color: White             (RHS 155C) and yellow-green towards the callus (RHS 150A and             151B).         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm.             Length: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Color:             Yellow/green (RHS 1B) and yellow (RHS 5A) with small             greyed-purple dots (RHS 184A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present.         -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 4.2 mm to             4.5 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. Color: Orange             (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the             column. Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm to 2.3             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 35.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Diameter: 2.4 mm to             2.7 mm. Color: Greyed-purple from the inflorescence (RHS             187A) and diluted green towards the flower (RHS 144A and             145C to 145D), to light red-purple near the flower (RHS             65D). -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a     high temperature of about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFLABAL’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-0274’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFLABAL’ has a medium curvature of the lateral lobe and lateral sepals that are even, whereas ‘01-0274’ has a strong curvature of the lateral lobe and lateral sepals that are partially dotted towards the base. Additionally, ‘PHALFLABAL’ has a leaf blade angle with the petiole measured for the horizontal position of between 15 and 70 degrees, whereas ‘01-0274’ has a leaf blade angle with the petiole measured for the horizontal position of between 0 and 10 degrees.

‘PHALFLABAL’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBOFAK’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALFLABAL’ has a type V spatulate lateral lobe shape and lateral sepals that are even, whereas ‘PHALBOFAK’ has a type IV weakly spatulate lateral lobe shape and lateral sepals that are partially dotted towards the center of the flower. Additionally, ‘PHALFLABAL’ has longer whiskers than ‘PHALBOFAK’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALFLABAL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 